Sugar Land, TX
Sugar land, TX celebrating 50 years
The land in and about the City of Sugar Land was originally owned by the Mexican government and was granted to Samuel M. Williams through Stephen F. Austin. Williams called this land “Oakland Plantation” because there were many different varieties of oaks on the land. In 1853, the “Oakland Plantation” was purchase from the S. M. Williams family. The land, rich in sugar cane, was appropriately renamed “Sugar Land.” Located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston area, Sugar land is the fastest-growing city in Texas.
As of the 2005 U.S. Census estimate, Sugar Land had a population of 78,901. Founded as a sugar plantation in the early mid 1800s and incorporated in 1959, Sugar Land is the largest city and economic center of Fort Bend County.
Sugar Land named America’s Fifth Safest City, third-largest in population and second-largest in economic activities of the Houston area. Sugar Land is home to the headquarters of Imperial Sugar. As a nod to this heritage, the Imperial Sugar crown logo can be seen in the city seal and logo.
Sugar Land also holds the headquarters for Western Airways and a major manufacturing facility for Nalco Chemical Company. In addition, Sugar Land has a large number of international energy, software, engineering, and product firms.
Sugar Land ranked second among the “hottest” places to live within the state of Texas and 46th in the United States for 2005 according to Money magazine. Sugar Land has just recently been named the third best place to live in the U.S for the year of 2006. Sugar Land has the most master-planned communities in Fort Bend County, which is home to the largest number of master-planned communities in the nation.
Sugar Land holds the title of “Fittest City in Texas” for the population 50,000—100,000 range, a title it has held for three consecutive years. In 2009 the City of Sugar Land celebrated its 50th Anniversary